Chapter 84: Venti’s Farewell
Shao Yun and Lumine rode side by side, galloping down Mondstadt's main road as the sound of hooves and rushing wind wove together into a rousing symphony.
Under the morning sunlight, their figures appeared valiant and graceful—like twin bolts of lightning cutting through the sky.
Springvale slowly unfolded before them, picturesque and breathtaking. The clear waters of Cider Lake sparkled under the sun, flanked by lush green trees that danced in harmony with the blue sky and drifting clouds—a peaceful pastoral scene.
As they passed through Springvale, sprawling vineyards blanketed the hillsides. Vines coiled around trellises, their green leaves parting just enough to reveal clusters of purple-red grapes, exuding a tempting aroma.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves with a soft, whispering sound—as if nature itself were murmuring secrets.
Shao Yun and Lumine quickened their pace, rode past Dawn Winery, crossed a stretch of rolling hills, and eventually arrived at the border between Mondstadt and Liyue.
Before them stretched a deep, narrow gorge. The cliffs were steep and imposing, like a road cleaved into the land by an axe.
Shao Yun pulled the reins tightly, bringing his horse to a steady halt.
Raising an eyebrow, he turned to Lumine with a smile tugging at his lips.
"How's the ride treating you?"
Lumine reined in her horse so they stood side by side. She inhaled deeply, savoring the crisp air of the canyon, and replied, "Want the truth?"
Shao Yun nodded, anticipation glinting in his eyes.
"Of course."
Lumine gently patted Buell's back. The horse dipped its head obediently. She smiled. "I love this horse. He's responsive and strong. Thank you, Shao Yun."
Shao Yun waved her thanks away with a grin. "As long as you like him."
Then he turned his eyes toward Paimon, perched in front of Lumine, and asked, "What about you, Paimon? How was the ride?"
Paimon spun midair, thinking back on the experience. With a mischievous wink, she declared, "I think Lumine's riding skills are better than yours! From now on, I'm sticking with her. No more sitting behind you."
Shao Yun chuckled. Really? He was the one who cleared a rider's challenge. His skills couldn't possibly be lacking.
He reached out and tousled Paimon's hair until it was a mess.
"Little one, don't talk nonsense. I'm an expert rider, thank you very much. Maybe you're just dizzy from eating too much?"
Paimon puffed out her cheeks, indignant. "Hmph! Says you! You're just in denial—admit your riding stinks!"
Their banter made Lumine laugh. She shook her head. "Alright, enough you two. We should keep moving."
Shao Yun sobered slightly, gazing at the canyon and then at the sun slowly descending in the sky.
"Looks like we need to pick up the pace if we want to reach Wangshu Inn before nightfall. Otherwise, we'll be camping out."
Lumine nodded in agreement. She gave Buell's neck a soft pat. The horse, sensing her intent, moved forward at a steady trot.
Shao Yun led the way, and together they entered the borderlands between Mondstadt and Liyue.
A system notification popped up.
[You have entered Liyue territory. Discounted prices are no longer in effect.]
[Wishing you a wonderful adventure in Liyue.]
Shao Yun glanced at the message, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
He turned to Lumine and Paimon, his voice tinged with excitement.
"We've made it to Liyue."
…
The three rode through the canyon, their horses' hooves clicking crisply against the stone-strewn path.
Suddenly, Lumine's gaze locked onto a familiar green silhouette in the distance. Curiosity stirred in her voice. "Huh? Is that Venti?"
Venti stood not far off, strumming a green lyre. The elegant melody wafted through the air, like a song that could cleanse the soul.
The sound brought a swirl of feelings to Shao Yun—memories of that fateful night weeks ago. He nudged his horse forward, cautiously.
"Hello, Venti."
Venti stopped playing and turned to them, his face lighting up with a brilliant smile.
"Aww, you really wound me—leaving without saying goodbye. Now I have to come find you to say farewell."
Shao Yun's hand instinctively shifted from the Schofield on his hip to the Dead-Eye Revolver
If Venti dared repeat what had happened before, Shao Yun knew he'd have no choice but to draw on a god.
He narrowed his eyes warily. "How was I supposed to find you? Mondstadt's huge and you don't even have a place to live. You're too hard to track down. So… sorry."
Venti sensed the tension in Shao Yun's posture and gave a breezy laugh. "Hahaha, relax! I'm not mad or anything."
There might have been a double meaning in his words—or maybe not. Maybe he really wasn't upset.
Shao Yun took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
He glanced at Venti, expression unreadable. "Better not be."
Still, he didn't remove his hand from the weapon.
Venti's eyes wandered to the steed beneath Lumine—Buell. The ivory-gold coat gleamed, its posture proud and alert.
He looked impressed, then turned to Lumine with a grin. "By the way, Lumine, your horse is really beautiful."
Lumine looked down at her steed, smiling proudly as she stroked its mane. "Shao Yun gave him to me. He's smart, obedient—I really like him."
Venti whistled in admiration. "Wow, Shao Yun really went all out. I've never seen a horse with that color in Mondstadt. He's not just stunning—he's got presence. You must've spent a lot of time finding him, huh?"
Standing to the side, Shao Yun heard the praise but didn't feel pleased. The man in the top hat still cast a shadow over his trust in Venti—he truly feared another standoff might come.
"Thanks for the compliments. But besides saying goodbye, do you have any other reason for stopping us? We've got places to be."
Shao Yun cut him off, urging him to wrap it up.
Venti blinked, then took a deep breath, gazing meaningfully at him. "Just saying goodbye. Come back to visit sometime, alright? Mondstadt's doors are always open. Wherever you go, this will always be your home."
Shao Yun didn't know what to say. He merely nodded and turned to Lumine. "Let's go. We're burning daylight."
Their horses moved around Venti and continued toward Liyue.
Venti plucked a final melody from his lyre—a farewell carried on the wind, echoing through the gorge.
As the final note faded, Shao Yun disappeared around a bend.
Venti stood quietly, fingers still resting on the strings, savoring the music's lingering echo.
"I wonder who's stronger—the thing behind Shao Yun, or that old man..." he murmured, a flicker of unease in his gaze.
He feared the man in the top hat deeply. With just a brush against Shao Yun's weapons, he had granted him the power to slay gods.
Even if Shao Yun said it wouldn't act—who'd risk their life on that?
Venti looked skyward, sighing.
"Whatever. Time to earn tonight's wine money."
And with that, he became a gust of emerald wind and vanished, leaving only the music echoing through the canyon.
…
Shao Yun rode peacefully through the gorge, eyes taking in the grand, tranquil landscape.
Sheer cliffs rose on either side, dotted with lush vegetation. The bright sky arched above.
The rhythmic beat of hooves gave the canyon a pulse—a breath of life.
He tugged the reins gently, guiding his horse along the trail. His eyes wandered to a bubbling stream. The water shimmered, little fish darting playfully beneath the surface.
Crossing a rustic wooden bridge, he noticed his horse's gait becoming lighter.
Looking ahead, he spotted a convoy of cargo balloons drifting through the air, a unique and picturesque scene.
Lumine followed close behind.
Just then, voices reached Shao Yun's ears—chatter from a group of bystanders at the roadside.
Curious, he drew closer.
A burly man stared at his horse in awe. "That's a real horse? Unbelievable! And that color—like it stepped right out of a painting!"
Next to him, a bespectacled man who looked like a merchant chimed in, "Indeed. This is a once-in-a-lifetime steed. In Liyue Harbor, that horse could fetch sixty million Mora—if not more."
An adventurer nearby added, "That's not a horse—that's money on legs! The owner must be incredibly lucky to have such a beast."
Hearing this, Shao Yun couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. He stroked Carrot's mane, relishing her silky texture.
Lumine and Paimon beamed at the praise, standing tall like they wanted the whole world to admire them.
They pressed on, soon arriving at Liyue's Stone Gate.
Two Millelith guards stood at their posts. Seeing the trio, their eyes were immediately drawn to the horses.
One of the guards stepped forward and blocked Shao Yun's path. He planted his spear firmly, posture steady.
"While the Millelith stands guard, evil shall never prevail! Greetings, travelers."
Shao Yun studied him, quietly impressed by his presence. He smiled. "Is something the matter?"
The guard's eyes flicked to the Andalusian beneath him, clearly captivated. He swallowed, then spoke hesitantly, "Apologies for holding you… all three of you. I just have a question."
Shao Yun remained composed. "Go ahead. I'll answer."
The guard steadied himself. The horses clearly made him nervous, but he forced a breath and asked, "What's your purpose in Liyue?"
Shao Yun looked to the distant peaks—beyond which lay Liyue Harbor.
"Heading to Liyue Harbor, of course. I don't plan to turn right and retire in Qingce Village."
The guard blinked. His question had been… a bit obvious.
He coughed awkwardly. "Welcome to Liyue. My apologies—I didn't mean to offend..."
Shao Yun waved it off with a smile. "No need to be nervous. Speak freely."
The guard nodded, still admiring the horse. "Just a reminder—horses are extremely rare here in Liyue. Please watch over yours carefully. Theft and robbery aren't unheard of."
Shao Yun nodded in understanding. "Thanks for the warning. We'll be careful."
The guard stepped aside. "Once again, welcome to Liyue. I hope your stay is a pleasant one."
As they passed, the guard's eyes lingered, still captivated by the majestic steeds.
Lumine guided her horse beside Shao Yun.
Leaning in, she whispered, "I didn't expect Liyue folk to be more obsessed with horses than Mondstadt. Even the stoic Millelith guards can't take their eyes off them."
Shao Yun nodded. "Mondstadters are used to seeing horses. But in Liyue and elsewhere, they're practically mythical. Even the rich rarely flaunt them."
He paused. "Which means… we have to be careful. Someone might get ideas."
Lumine's eyes sparkled with mischief. "And if they do try something—what will you do?"
Shao Yun tapped the revolver on his hip, a cold smile spreading across his face.
"Don't worry. If anyone lays a hand on our horses, I'll make sure they never forget it."